Clasps



June 2, 1959 c. A. NASH 2,888,730

CLASPS Y Filed June 28. 1957 ENTOR 094mm A. NASH 86 Ms A X United States CLASPS Charles A. Nash, Seattle, Wash.

Application June 28, 1957, Serial No. 668,804

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-245) This invention relates to a new and improved type of clasp or garter button, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicient means for facilitating the secure attachment of a garter button to a stocking and the like, by interlocking the sections of the clasp or button in various relative angular positions.

A further object of the present invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for fastening a stocking and the like between two sections of the clasp or button to firmly hold the stocking and the like against disengagement with the clasp or button and at the same time provide a clasp or button structure which will facilitate the release of the stocking and the like by turning one section of the clasp or button to one of four selected positions.

Another object of this invention is the production of a clasp or garter button which is so constructed as to positively lock the sections of the clasp or button in a closed article holding position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the clasp or huttonzin a stocking-engaging position;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3is a rear elevational view'of the clasp or button in a stocking-engaging position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figurel;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the primary section of the clasp or button;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the primary section shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the co-acting section of the clasp or button;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an enlarged front elevational view of the clasp or button, illustrating the four unlocking positions to which the co-acting section of the clasp or button may be turned for separating the sections of the clasp or button;

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a front elevational view of the primary section of the clasp or button shown in Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the co-acting or locking section of the clasp or button shown in Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the co-acting or locking section of the modified form;

Patented June 2, 1959 Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the co-acting or locking section shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a front elevational view showing the clasp or button in a different fastening position from that shown in Figures 11 and 12.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon my previous patent relating to a clasp, issued November 17, 1942, No. 2,302,341.

By referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that 20 designates a primary section of the clasp or button, and 21 designates a co-acting or clamping section of the clasp or button. The primary section is provided with a flat tapering front face 22, which tapers downwardly to its lower extremity, thereby defining a wedgeshape formation in vertical section, as is shown in Figure 6. The primary section 28 carries an outwardly and right-angularly extending neck 23 which protrudes forwardly from the inclined face 22. This neck 23 supports a diamond-shaped knob or head 24 at its outer end, the top and lower ends 25 and 26 of which protrude respectively above and below the neck 23, and are in vertical alignment with each other. The sides of the knob or head 24 merge into the neck 23, as is shown in Figure 9. The knob or head 24 is provided with straight parallel side edges 28 and 29 which extend at an incline at an angle intermediate the vertical and horizontal axis of the knob or head 24 and this knob or head is also provided with straight parallel side edges 30 and 31 extending at an incline at an angle intermediate the vertical and horizontal axis of the knob or head 24 in an opposite direction to the edges 28 and 29. The primary section 20 is suspended from a conventional elastic garter portion A, is shown in Figure 1.

The co-acting or clamping section 21 comprises a slightly tapering relatively thin body which is suspended from a conventional elastic garter portion B, as is shown in Figure 1. This co-acting or clamping section 21 is adapted to overlie the primary section 28 for clamping a stocking and the like S, between the sections 24 and 21, in the manner shown in Figure 2. The co-acting or clamping section 21 is provided with an elliptical aperture 27, the elongated portion thereof extending transversely of the co-acting or clamping section 21, as is shown in Figure 7.

When assembling the clasp or button, the section 21 is rotated, swung or turned to a position Where the elongated sides of the elliptical aperture 27 extend substantially parallel to two opposite inclined sides of the diamond-shaped knob or head 24, such for instance with the substantially parallel sides 28 and 29 of the knob or head 24, note Figure 10, and the dotted line position 1, of the section 21 which is shown swung or turned to the right of the vertical center. The fabric of the stocking S is placed over the knob or head 24 and the knob or head 24 and the covering fabric are then extended through the aperture 27, while the aperture 27 is in the angular position 1. The section 21 then returns to its normal vertical position, shown in full lines in Figure 10, at which time the elongated axis of the elliptical aperture 27 extends in a substantially horizontal position and the narrow axis of the elliptical aperture 27 extends in a substantially vertical position, where the upper and lower ends 25 and 26 of the diamond-shaped knob or head overlap the respective upper and lower edges of the aperture 27 in substantial vertical alignment with the narrow axis of the elliptical aperture 27. The upper end of the section 21 at this time firmly clamps the fabric of the stocking S against the front face 22 of the section 20 with a wedge-like action or grip and the ends 25 and 26 will also firmly clamp the fabric of the stocking S in overlapping engagement with the front face of the section 21, while also locking the sections 20 and 21 together.

The stocking S may be released merely by reversing the operation above set forth. The two sections and 21 may also be locked together or disengaged in a similar manner by moving the section 21 to any one of the dotted line positions 1 to 4 inclusive, as shown in Figure 10. It is important that in each position, the elongated axis of the elliptical aperture parallel with the parallel side edges of the knob or head 24, such for instance, with the side edges 28 and 29 or the sides 30 and 31 in order that the knob or head 24 may be inserted through or removed from the elliptical aperture. At all other times, the two sections 29 and 21 are locked together by the overlapping of the ends and 26 beyond the edges of the elongated side edges of the elliptical aperture 27.

From the foregoing description, and as shown in Figure 10 the sections 20 and 21 may be quickly and efficiently assembled for clamping engagement with the fabric of a stocking in any one of four positions, and when desired from two positions, such as positions 1 and 3 with a minimum amount of turning movement of the section 21.

In Figures 11 and 16 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown, wherein a primary section 32 is suspended from a conventional elastic garter portion C. The section 32 carries a right-angularly and outwardly extending neck 33 and diamond-shaped knob or head 34 similar to the neck 23 and head 24 shown in Figure 6. A co-acting or clamping section 35 is suspended from a conventional elastic garter portion D, and this section 35 is provided with an elliptical aperture 36, the elongated axis of which extends transversely of the section 35. The neck 33, the head 34, and the aperture 36, perform the same functions as set forth with respect to the neck 23 and the head 24 and the aperture 27, and it is thought unnecessary to reiterate this description. The section 32 is provided with a transverse slot 37 near its lower end, and the clamping section 35 is provided with an inturned locking tongue 38 at its lower end to fit into the slot 37 of the section 32 to positively lock and to hold the sections 32 and 35 in overlying vertical and clamping alignment to secure the fabric of the stocking S in secure engagement with the sections 32 and 35, and against independent swinging movement with respect to each other.

As is shown in Figure 17, the section 32 may be inverted from the position shown in Figures 11 and 12, so that the tongue 38 fits into the elastic portion receiving slot 39 so as to connect two elements together, where the elastic portion C engages one element or article and the other elastic portion D engages another element or article.

It should be understood that the present clasp or fastener, although adapted for an efiicient garter button, it constitutes also an all-around fastener, and it is not desired to limit the invention to one particular use. For instance, the fastener may be used upon any articles which are adjustable and require a fastener, such as corsets, bras, childrens clothes of all kinds, shoe buckles, suit cases, strap fasteners, bathing caps, suits, and the like, Within the scope of the invention. In fact the fastener may be used in any manner where buttons or fasteners are required, and it may be used on surgical garments requiring fasteners. The clasp or fastener may be made of any desired size, and of any desired material to suit varied requirements.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A clasp of the class described comprising a primary section having a projecting neck, a vertically elongated knob having straight parallel side edges extending at an angle inclined intermediate the vertical and horizontal axis of said knob, said knob having projecting end portions extending beyond the upper and lower portions of said neck, said knob normally extending in a vertical plane, a co-acting section adapted to fit over said primary section, said co-acting section having an elliptical aperture, the elongated axis of which extends normally at right-angles to the vertical elongated axis of said knob, said co-acting section being adapted to be rotated to cause said knob to extend through said elliptical aperture when said straight parallel inclined side edges of said knob register with the elongated edges of said elliptical aperture of said co-acting section for selective assembly and separation of the primary and co-acting sections when in any one of a plurality of selected inclined positions, and said co-aeting section being rotatable to extend said elliptical aperture at right-angles to said knob in a manner whereby said projecting end portions of said knob will overhang the elongated edges of said elliptical aperture and firmly hold said co-acting section in clamping relation upon-said primary section and to firmly clamp material therebetween, said primary section of said clasp having a flat tapering face abutting said co-acting section, the tapering face being inclined inwardly and downwardly from the top of said primary section to the bottom extremity thereof in a manner to provide a Wedge-like gripping action for the material placed therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,341 Nash Nov. 17, 1942 

